Horizontal-water-wheel system.



No. 705,993. Patented July 29, I902.

A. GIESLER. HORIZONTAL WATER WHEEL SYSTEM.

(Application filed Oct, 1, 1900.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE,

ARTHUR GIESLER, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE STILWELL- BIEROE & SMITH-VAILE 00., OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF nnw JERSEY.

HORlZONTAL-WATER-WHEEL SYSTEM.

$PECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 705,993, dated July 29, 1902. Application filed October 1, 1900. -Scria1N'o. 31,689- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR GIEsLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in HorizontalWVater-IVheel This invention relates to improvements in water-wheel systems and .possesses the'new and useful features hereinafter described and claimed.

In mypending application, filed Septem: ber 27, 1900, Serial No. 31,243, I show an airvalve operated by means of a water-float and adapted to discharge air into the upper portion of the turbine-casing by meansof a passage leading from said valve to said turbinecasing. In the present invention I employ an automatic air-valve, which is operated by atmospheric pressure to admit air directly to the turbine-casing, the said valve being mounted on the wheel-casing.

Experience in connection with the manu facture and installation of turbine waterwheels has demonstrated that in very many instances, owing to the physical conditions, it is desirable and necessary to place said turbine water-wheels a considerabledistance above the water in the tail-race. In order to do this without loss of head and subsequent loss of power, it becomes necessary to connect the turbine wheel with the water in thevtailrace by means of a draft-tube which may be Varied in length according to requirements. With certain types of water-wheelsto wit,

those known as the impulse or Girard.

typemy experience has demonstrated the desirability of maintaining the height of the water in the draft-tubeat a predetermined level and that this can be best accomplished by the admission of airto the wheel-casing or draft-tube above the level. The quantity gate is controlled by a governor or regulator,

which opens or closes it to accommodate the varying load on the wheel. The height of water inthe draft-tube having been determined at a point where the water-wheel will develop its greatest efliciency, it is evident that a deviceformaintaining that level under varying loads becomes a great desideratum. The result is accomplished by my invention, which I will now describe.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of a water-wheel system constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is 'a detail of the locking-barfor the valve-lever.

In the specification similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A designates a turbine-wheel casing, which is suitably mounted above the tail-race and is connected with said tail-race by a drafttube B, the said draft-tube being of requisite length to extend from the tail-race to the casing. are arranged two deflector-plates L, extending throughout the length'of the casing and inclininginwardly. These plates provide a suitable compartment, into which the air is discharged. WVithin this casing there is mounted horizontally one or more turbine wheels O on shaft 0 in the usual manner, said turbine wheel or wheels being of the impulse or Girard type. The upper portion of the casing is provided with a nozzle D, upon which is mounted an automatic or non-auto matic air-valve E, which opens into the easing. Through this valve atmospheric pressure is admitted to the casing to maintain the water at a predetermined level. air-valve may be placed at any point between the upper portion of the wheel-casing and the tail water and the same results obtained. The valve seats against an elbow or pipe F, which connects with the nozzle D and opens On the interior of the casing there The said to the atmosphere. The valve-stem E is inclosed by a helical spring E, which maintains it normally against the valve-seat. The spring is inclosed in a housing or extension II.

I designates a lever which is fulcrumed at at I and is connected to the valve-stem E. The lever I is provided with a weight J, which may be placed at various points along said lever to vary the Weight thereon.

When the atmospheric pressure exceeds the pressure within the wheel-casing or the draft-tube,which condition takes place whenever a vacuum or partial vacuum occurs within the wheel-casing or draft-tube, the atmospheric pressure unseats the valve E, and such pressure is then admitted to the casing. In other Words, whenever the rarefied condition within the wheel-casing plus the weight on the valve-lever and the atmospheric pressure on the outside of the wheel-casing are not in balance atmospheric pressure acting against the said weight will open the said valve and admit air. This condition takes place when the water within the wheel-casing rises above the predetermined level. Atmospheric pressure entering the Wheel-casing through said valve will exert the necessary pressure upon the surface of the water within said casing to maintain the desired water-level.

The wheel-casing is exhausted of air by the water entering the said casing through radial discharging turbine wheel or wheels. The air is exhausted or rarefied to an extent that is due to the height from the tail-water t0 the predetermined level of water within the turbine-casing. For example, the distance between the predetermined point'of the tailwater is, say, ten feet. It follows, therefore,

that a correct vacuum-gage would register roaees about nine inches of vacuum. The air-valve 0 E may be operated automatically to admit atmospheric pressure to the turbine-casing, or it may be opened and maintained in an open position manually by the following devices:

K designates abar which is rigidlymounted in proximity to the valve E. This bar has a longitudinal opening K, in which the lever I projects and is movable to various positions. The bar K has also a series of openings K", through which a pin K may be inserted below the lever I to support said lever in any desired position, depending upon the valveopening.

I do not wish to limit myself to the identical form of valve shown, as other forms of valves operated automatically or manually will perform the same service.

Having described my invention, I claim- In a Water-Wheel system, the combination of a turbine-casing, a draft-tube connecting said casing with the tail-water, a turbine in said casing, said turbine being of the impulse or Girard type, an air-Valve opening into said casing above the surface of the water and upon the discharge side of the turbine, and yielding means to resist the opening of said valve by the atmosphere, whereby the height of the tail-water may be maintained approximately at a constant level for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR GIESLER.

Witnesses:

R. N. BRUMBAUGH, R. J. MCOARTY. 

